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Sedan – Helmeted officers, who were undoubtedly equipped with climbing ropes, had the best view from the roof. The sun on Thursday was already in the morning position, a milky sky was spreading over Kreuzberg and something was happening in the streets below as well.
In any case, from above you could see where the Hamburg bars were, which had turned the neighborhood into a restricted area since Wednesday, where all the vehicles that had brought a thousand colleagues to the place were parked, and how many people had gathered. . to prevent something that could no longer be avoided: the evacuation of the trendy left-wing bar “Meuterei” on Reichenberger Strasse.
Was the action a bit over the top in scope after all?
In the sum of their impressions, the officers on the roof would have been reliable witnesses to help answer a much debated question on the ground: did the action really have to be or was the action a bit over the top in scope?
On behalf of the skeptics, Hakan Taş, a member of the Left Party and the Berlin House of Representatives, said: “It is problematic that so many emergency services are here and the demonstration cannot take place in sight.” And: “Why are there such measures in times of pandemic?”
On behalf of the police, a spokeswoman said: “The keys must be handed over to the owner here.” And: “We are preparing for all eventualities.” Facade climbing included. Spoiler: It wasn’t necessary at all. The mallet and chainsaw were enough.
Operations manager: “The story is not spectacular”
A riot is an act of resistance, a refusal to obey, and from that point of view the name of the tavern was justified on the last day. But after a 20-minute siege, the evacuation was complete, two women were pulled out of the “mutiny,” the chief of operations introduced himself to the press and announced as a little challenged action hero: “The story is not spectacular.” The women were right after establishing their means of identity, released again. And now? Mutiny suppressed? Not quite.
The scene had already called for action beforehand. The night before the evacuation, cars caught fire and windows were smashed. So that was it again, fighting the loss of space. But this also destroys the support of the population. And the next night, at the main demonstration that started in Mauerpark and broke up shortly before Alexanderplatz? If the pyrotechnics burned, the stones flew, arrests were made, but still, well, peaceful.
It can also be done peacefully. There were people who had come to a concert in front of the Spreewaldbad that morning (“Singing against the evacuation”). With distance and mask, of course. The filtered coffee and sandwiches were delivered from a cargo bike, and on the edge, swinging one foot to the beat, was Susanne, a physical therapist and Kreuzberger for three decades, who said, “A part of the Kiez culture is disappearing again. Who should do their job in the future? “
Appointment to see the “riot” evacuated
The riot was more than a pub where everyone could buy a beer after work. A solidarity group worked in the background, and for the last twelve years a neighborhood meeting point, a counseling center that knew how to provide information on the pitfalls of the leasing law, for example. Susanne says, “It was a place of retirement.” He had some nice nights at the bar. Smoking by candlelight.
This counter, an ashtray full of hand-rolled, coffee leftovers in a plastic cup, mouthwash, moving boxes in the corner, a plastic bag with brushes, everything that was still there when the police asked to see the ” riot “evacuated. , accompanied by a megaphone from the address of the protesters: “So that you pissed off.” Quite the contrary was the case.
Final greetings to the owner.
More frustrating than a pub that is closed due to a pandemic is a pub that has been cleared during the pandemic, from which almost all traces of nightlife have disappeared. What remains are the memories and, in addition to other artistically uninspired graffiti, a final greeting to the owner, who wanted 750,000 euros for the shop: “Nenadic, you are a pig.” The lease expired in 2019, after which there was no commitment. .
Construction workers will be coming here soon and then, as Hakan Taş suspects: “It will be sold to the highest bidder in the next few days.” Like the apartments above the pub, where a resident briefly rears his head and quickly moves in again. . He didn’t have a protest pan that rattled against metal like the neighbors across the street.
